Block of flats evacuated by blaze

AN entire block of Oldham flats was evacuated last night after a fire was started in a stairwell.

The flames raged between the tenth and eleventh floor at the Cross Bank House flats in Manchester Street. Four fire crews from Hollins, Chadderton and Oldham rushed to the scene after calls from residents shortly after 8.30pm.

From what fire-fighters could tell a bundle of aerosols and clothes had been set alight, causing smoke to bellow up to four higher floors.

Residents were left stood out in the cold as fire-fighters scrambled to dampen the blaze using jets.

Locals living on lower floors were allowed to return to their homes around 45 minutes later, however those on higher floors than the fire were made to wait until the smoke had been ventilated. Fire-fighters however managed to contain the flames spreading to properties and managed to leave the scene at around 11pm.

Police have not linked the trouble to the riots in Manchester but are investigating the cause.